Procurement Vehicles That Can Help SaaS Vendors Sell Faster

You’ve got the solution. Now here’s how agencies can actually buy it—without 18 months of red tape.

Here’s the truth most SaaS founders learn too late:
Federal agency buyers don’t just need your product to be secure.
They need a way to buy it quickly, cleanly, and compliantly.

If you don’t give them a path, they’ll pick someone who does.

That’s where procurement vehicles come in.
These are the pre-approved acquisition channels that let government agencies skip long RFP cycles and buy SaaS faster.

At Knox Systems, we help FedRAMP-ready SaaS vendors tap into the right vehicles at the right time—so deals move forward without bureaucratic stall-outs.

Here are the top ones you need to know:

1. GSA Schedule (MAS – Multiple Award Schedule)

The GSA Schedule is the OG of federal procurement.

• Used by almost every agency
  
  
• Supports software, cloud services, and subscriptions
  
  
• Offers pre-negotiated terms and pricing
  
  
• Great for long-term, repeat sales

Best for: SaaS companies with steady federal demand and a defined pricing model
Watch out for: Long onboarding time (6–12 months) unless you partner with a reseller‍

Hint: Already “In Process” with FedRAMP? Mention it—agencies look for that when sourcing from GSA Advantage.

2. SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement)

Run by NASA, but used across the federal government.

• Covers cloud, software, hardware, and services
  
  
• Very popular with DoD and civilian agencies
  
  
• Easy to access if you team with an authorized SEWP contract holder

Best for: Emerging tech, platform-as-a-service, and packaged solutions
Hint: You don’t need your own SEWP contract—partner with a prime or distributor who has one.

3. OTAs (Other Transaction Authorities)

The fast lane for innovation.

• Designed for R&D, prototypes, and emerging technologies
  
  
• Avoids FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
  
  
• Faster procurement cycles—weeks, not months
  
  
• Often led by DoD and tech-forward civilian agencies‍

Best for: AI, cybersecurity, zero trust, and next-gen SaaS
Watch out for: Not all agencies have OTA authority—do your homework

Hint: Knox vendors who are FedRAMP “In Process” often use OTAs to get early adoption before full authorization.

4. BPAs (Blanket Purchase Agreements)

Think of this as the “set it and scale it” option.

• Once you’re on a BPA, agencies can issue orders without re-competing
  
  
• Streamlines procurement for recurring or scalable purchases
  
  
• BPAs can be single-agency or multi-agency

Best for: SaaS companies expecting multiple task orders or agency expansion

Hint: Pairing a BPA with a FedRAMP-ready platform like Knox makes expansion low-risk and procurement-ready.

5. StateRAMP & Local Purchasing Co-ops

Don't forget the state and local market:

• StateRAMP is gaining traction as a cloud security standard
  
  
• Purchasing co-ops (like NASPO ValuePoint) help states and municipalities leverage shared contracts

Best for: SaaS vendors targeting SLG (state/local government) alongside federal

FACT: CMX helps align your documentation across both FedRAMP and StateRAMP with shared evidence and control mappings.

How Knox Helps You Move Faster

Procurement vehicles move faster when your:

Security posture is strong
Compliance evidence is ready
Infrastructure is FedRAMP-inheritable
SSPs and POA&Ms are auto-generated in OSCAL

That’s what Knox + CMX gives you—so you show up ready to buy, not just “interested.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are procurement vehicles and why do they matter for SaaS vendors?
Procurement vehicles are pre-approved government acquisition channels that let agencies buy SaaS products faster without lengthy RFP processes or compliance delays.

2. How can SaaS companies use the GSA Schedule to sell to federal agencies?
The GSA Schedule allows agencies to purchase approved software and cloud services under pre-negotiated terms, making it ideal for vendors with steady federal demand.

3. What makes SEWP a strong option for SaaS and cloud providers?
NASA’s SEWP contract vehicle supports cloud and software solutions, offering an efficient way for vendors to reach DoD and civilian agencies through authorized contract holders.

4. How do OTAs help emerging tech companies sell to the government faster?
OTAs bypass traditional Federal Acquisition Regulations, enabling agencies to rapidly adopt new technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and zero-trust solutions.

5. How does Knox Systems help SaaS vendors access procurement vehicles faster?
Knox provides FedRAMP-inheritable infrastructure, automated compliance documentation, and CMX-powered monitoring, ensuring vendors meet security and procurement requirements quickly.

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TL;DR

Your SaaS is secure.
Your pricing is competitive.
But if agencies don’t have a way to buy you quickly, you’re stuck.

GSA, SEWP, OTAs, BPAs = Faster lanes to federal sales
Knox + CMX = Trusted infrastructure + real-time compliance artifacts
Partnerships = Entry into vehicles without red tape

Waiting for the next RFP cycle is out.
Fast-track procurement is in.

Let’s open the lanes—and get you in.

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